#startsomethingpriceless

Start Something Priceless! The Surprise Getaway

September 25, 2019 By Lena 1 Comment

We are a family of travellers. Since 2012, we’ve taken over 100 trips together – exploring, learning, bonding, creating. In fact, the most enriching experiences I’ve had as a parent center around introducing my children to new cultures and cuisines. Family travel is awesome.

However, it was time to bid the kids adieu and TAKE A REAL GROWNUP VACATION!
My husband and I were (over) due for some alone time. Months ago, I started researching quick getaways where we could leave for a few days without overly disrupting the boys’ schedule or putting too much pressure on my mother-in-law (who would be looking after them in our absence). I kept everything a secret from my husband, mostly because I didn’t want to get his hopes up just in case I couldn’t pull something together. …

Make this Valentine’s Day Priceless 

February 13, 2019 By Lena 13 Comments

Confession: I’m not obsessed with Valentine’s Day. Frankly, it’s not really on my radar at all.

I guess I’ve just never been a candy-and-flowers kind of girl. Early in our relationship, I shared with my then boyfriend (now husband) that I’m mildly allergic to chocolate and inevitably kill all living foliage. This remains true to this day! Therefore, Valentine’s Day for me has always been about spending time together, doing something we love – or maybe trying something new – and remembering that our hearts belong to one another, with or without a fancy greeting card.

Hence, I make it my mission to counteract the commercial-ness of Valentine’s Day with thoughtful gifts and gestures. Some cost money, some don’t cost a thing – (I’m sensing a JLo song in here) – but here are my suggestions for making Valentine’s Day priceless.

1. Time, not things. It’s been a growing trend among my sons’ classmates to attach candy, school supplies and/or removable tattoos with their store-bought Valentines. It’s a fun little treat and I don’t begrudge the goodies for a second. However, this year I encouraged the boys to create “coupons” to attach to their Valentines. These coupons offer their time and expertise, customized to their classmates and how they normally interact with them.
For example, Reid is somewhat of a Beyblade champion, so he has offered a coupon for Beyblade lessons during recess to those friends he thinks would enjoy learning from the “master”. Ryder, who has a vast knowledge of Pokémon, has offered to share trading techniques and intel to those who are interested. The coupons are an out-of-the-box way to show love and kindness on Valentine’s Day, and I hope to make it a tradition! …

A Lifetime of Love with a First Time Fan

December 28, 2018 By Lena 15 Comments

The very first time I laid eyes on my future husband, it was through a computer screen.

YES! Michael and I met online. I know it’s a common meeting place for couples today, but back in 2005, there was still a strong stigma attached to online dating – specifically, the creeps and weirdos I’d surely encounter. The good news? My husband is neither.

However, with online dating, there’s always one major hurdle to cross: the first date. After chatting through the computer and on the phone for a week or two, we decided to plow ahead and not postpone the inevitable. We met for drinks at a local resto-bar and I was officially the most nervous I had been in my entire life.

About 10 minutes into our first date, I knew I wanted a second.

We chatted about everything from family to work life to places we’ve travelled and places we wanted to visit. We talked about kids (a definite yes) and outdoorsy stuff (a definite no), and discovered that we could have crossed paths about a dozen times before we did, yet found each other at the very right time. Needless to say, it was a very, very good first date.

At some point during our conversation, I mentioned that I was a bit of a sports nut. Baseball, basketball and especially hockey – I followed the sports, statistics, players, you name it. Michael laughed and admitted that he wasn’t into sports at all, save for the World Cup and UFC championships. I smiled and nodded and was just a little disappointed, but brushed the feelings aside, quickly. I mean, so what? There were more important things to a relationship than discussing the league’s leading GAA.
Our memorable first date concluded with promises to get together again that weekend. We met on a Wednesday night, so the thought of seeing him again in just a few days was so very welcome. After a long hug and a brief kiss, I drove home with a smile on my face. …